CD Reviews

Sets the bar

Christopher J. Stagner | Houston, Texas United States | 12/19/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the first and best release from those lovable vegan peace-punks; Carcass. In my opinion it is the most intense grindcore album ever made. By the way, early Carcass such as this is not death metal-it's grindcore which makes it more akin to punk, hardcore, and crust. In fact members of Carcass were in some of the pioneering bands that transformed dispunk and crust into grindcore. The apparent relation between grind and death is really an afterthough- a sort of parallel evolution between punk and metal(with some crossover influence of course especially in the late 80's early 90's. The raw lo-fi production just makes this album all that more punk. with this album Carcass set the bar."

THE BEGINNING OF GOREGRIND.

Edgar Sanchez | los angeles, california United States | 12/01/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This cd is the one which invented the goregrind subgenre.The album artwork sickened me in a way that no other death band has ever done.A truly ferocious metal masterpiece is the only thing that could describe these guys.If you could get past the bad production then you will realize that this is a great album.The songs are fast and in your face brutal.The vocals are just insane and you will find hundreds of bands which try to recreate them.I deeply miss them not being in the scene any longer.Best wishes go out to all the band members and especially to ken owen who is recovering from being ill.GO OUT AND GET THIS YOU SICK FREAKS!!!"

22 songs in 29 minutes...

Pablosa | Buenos Aires, Capital Federal Argentina | 03/13/2001

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This is the first album of one of the most important death-metal bands. Carcass can be consider as the inventors, with this album, of the forensic, gore, medical and autopsies lyrics; and add the collages of rotten limbs, tongues, heads and decaying corpses on the covers of the first two albums. You can find on "Reek..." %100 pure grindcore. This album has 22 songs in 29 minutes, and you have to listen to it a couple of times to make a difference between one song and another. Well, grindcore is a style that is recognized not for the musical skills or for being technical. Fast-blazing drums, gutural voices, and a guitar that sounds like Tv with no signal(SSSHHH). And to all these, I have to mention the horrible production, that doesn't help. But the gore atmosphere and lyrics will make you smile. I bought this record after "Heartwork", and "Necroticism...", and it took me a long time to digest. Now I play it on and on. Anyway, for grindcore fans(sick people) and REALLY Carcass' fans."

Great songs + horrible production = a tough call

William Ragan | Seattle, WA USA | 08/01/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

"While the songs on Carcass' first release are an often brilliant mixture of caffeine-addled grind and death-metal, it's usually difficult to tell because of the horrible, microphone-in-a-trashcan production. I would recommend the far superior and better-produced "Symphonies of Sickness" to new Carcass initiates. I have the original CD release of "Symphonies" that contains "Reek" (Along with the autopsy-collage album cover) and the difference in production between the two is like night and day. A.C. have used a similar-sounding production style on a few of their releases, akin to being stuck under three feet of sludge while the band plays above you. In A.C.'s case it just seems to be a parody. It's a tragedy for Carcass fans that this material was produced so poorly. I'd welcome a remaster with open arms, in this case it just might be a lost cause."

Grindcore classic

R. Delmedico | Florida | 07/04/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Despite what the rest of the losers here have said, this is a brilliant album. It's pure grind/death and it shreds. With gurgling vocals, upbeat punkish tempos, and heavy riffs as weighty as shrapnel, this is one of the band's best albums. This, Heartwork, Symphonies, and Necroticism are what made this band the gods they were. I wish they'd reunite."